Melrose, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Melrose: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Melrose and Charlevoix County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Charlevoix County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
10 of 111 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Charlevoix County compares with Michigan
Charlevoix County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Charlevoix County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Charlevoix County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.9 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 30% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 9.4% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 2.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 36.8% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 34.0% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.6% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 53.8% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 8.5% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 59% below the state |
Charlevoix County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Charlevoix County: 1 in 11 garbage-truck share of crashes is 9.4%, against 3.2% for Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 111 crashes involving commercial trucks in Charlevoix County since 2015: 43 people were injured and 7 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 38 days.
Only 15 truck crashes were reported in Melrose since 2015; patterns below come from Charlevoix County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (14.4% of the year) and are lowest in June (2.7%).
November through March accounts for 53.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 14.4% of truck crashes.
36.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-131 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). After it: CR-MITCHELL Rd (1), CR-THUMB Lake (1) and Intertown Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 10 of the truck crashes here, or 9.0%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for Melrose fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Charlevoix County.
- Check whether your routes use US-131, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 34.0% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- 36.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Charlevoix County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 4 |
| CR-MITCHELL Rd | 1 |
| CR-THUMB Lake | 1 |
| Intertown Rd | 1 |
| US-31 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Charlevoix County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 20 |
| US-31 | 15 |
| Bridge | 8 |
| Petoskey | 3 |
| Boyne City | 3 |
| Boyne | 3 |
| Burgess | 2 |
| Ellsworth | 2 |
Melrose at a glance
| Population | 1,408 |
| Land area | 32.9 sq mi |
| Density | 43 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49796) | $87,434 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Charlevoix County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 6 | +13% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 7 | +13% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 10 | +41% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 10. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Melrose
How many truck crashes happen in Melrose?
111 truck crashes have been reported in Charlevoix County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 43 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Melrose?
NHTSA data shows US-131 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Melrose since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Melrose?
Truck crashes in Charlevoix County peak in July, with 14.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Melrose?
10 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Charlevoix County since 2015, 9.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Melrose compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Charlevoix County has 36.9 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Melrose?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.